UNICEF to Deliver 120 Trucks of Aid Including 7.5 Million Litres of Water to Gaza During Four-Day Ceasefire
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund Welcomes Opportunity to Mobilise Latest Aid Package Waiting at Rafah Crossing
GAZA/DUBLIN – November 24, 2023 – UNICEF has begun the delivery of a significant aid package to Gaza following the commencement of a four-day ceasefire earlier this morning.
The aid convoy will see 120 trucks of essential supplies distributed across the strip over the next four days, bringing the total number of UNICEF aid trucks delivered to the region during this escalation to 198 since the opening of the Rafah Crossing on 21st October.
This latest UNICEF aid convoy will include 7.5 million litres of potable water distributed among children and families inside the Gaza Strip. The UN Agency has also secured access for water and hygiene specialists to cross into the enclave and develop solutions to prevent the spread of disease following the decimation of its water systems since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7th.
As winter approaches, a key focus of UNICEF will be on winterisation, with the provision of tents, tarpaulins, blankets and warm clothes being part of the consignment. In addition, the delivery will include medical supplies, hygiene kits and 50,000 period packs for women.
Prior to this latest delivery, UNICEF has delivered 330,000 litres of bottled water, 5,000 family hygiene kits, 1,000 litres of liquid soap, materials for rehabilitating sanitation and shower facilities, medical supplies for 244,000 people, water trucks for five hospitals, supplements for 250,000 children, 4,000 blankets and 20,000 nappies to the enclave within the limited humanitarian access parameters.
Speaking about this latest delivery, UNICEF Ireland Executive Director Peter Power said:
“We wholeheartedly welcome any opportunity to deliver lifesaving aid to children and families who are quite frankly hanging on by a thread within the Gaza Strip. This four-day window will provide some relief and respite to Gaza’s shellshocked population who have realised their worst nightmares over the past 48 days. While any delivery of aid is certainly positive, we must reiterate calls for a significant scaling up of unfettered humanitarian access to address the impossibly dire needs of children in Gaza. Throughout the conflict, the distribution of aid has become increasingly difficult, and the number of aid trucks permitted into the enclave has represented a fraction of requirements. For several weeks, UNICEF and partners have been stockpiling supplies at the Rafah Crossing to mobilise immediately as permitted. We are hopeful that this four-day window of access will herald further and enhanced access in the coming days and weeks.”
Speaking about the expected release of 13 Israeli hostages as part of the four-day truce, Peter Power said:
“We also welcome the release of child hostages who were taken from their families and have been held inside Gaza for almost two months. Our work remains unfinished until all children across the conflict have peace.”
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